uBhejane Xtreme is one for the books
From a gruelling 1am start, battling through a storm and the final 9km stretch to the finish line, each rider thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the fund-raiser event.
THE 2018 edition of the uBhejane Xtreme MTB Challenge saw riders brave some extreme weather conditions as they rode more than 340km from Hillcrest to Hilltop Camp in aid of Project Rhino and anti-poaching efforts.
Riders set off from Hillcrest at 1am on Saturday.
South African adventurer, Sibusiso Vilane, took part in the 250km event, which was one of the five events on offer.
“I felt that when I got through the first 40km, I had maxed out,” said Vilane. “It made me realise that they don’t call it the uBhejane Xtreme for nothing and it threw absolutely everything it could at us.”
“When it got tough I just reminded myself of why I am doing this and the importance of the cause we are representing. I knew the cause was way bigger than me and it was the motivation I needed to keep on going,” he added.
Former Springbok and Cell C Sharks backline star, Joe Pietersen, was also involved in the event and took on the 100km race.
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Pietersen is heavily involved in rhino conservation, through his Nkombe Rhino campaign just outside Hoedspruit in Limpopo province, where they protect rhinos from poaching and rolls out a dehorning programme.
“We eventually did 109km into Hilltop from Canelands in Empangeni. The last nine kilometres felt like another 109km!” Pietersen said.
“We had some great conditions early with some overcast weather and a bit of a tailwind but that quickly turned into a massive storm with thunder and lightning, but it was phenomenal!”
The riders met at the entrance to Hluhluwewith commentary from the legendary Voice of Cycling, Phil Liggett. He, along with a group of riders, joined the field for the ceremonial ride of 35 kilometres to Hilltop camp.
The event had a sombre feeling as black armbands were worn in remembrance of Liggett’s fellow cycling commentator, Paul Sherwen, who passed away recently.
To make a donation, visit www.ubhejanex.org.
